In the wake of December's horrific antisemitic Bondi Beach attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state leaders announced a national gun buyback program, the biggest push to reduce weapons since the Port Arthur massacre. However, the reality might be quite different.
Surge in Gun Licence Applications
In the four weeks after Bondi, firearms licence applications in NSW soared to over 2,100, up from about 1,200 the previous year. Data showed a spike of nearly 700% in licence holders applying for sport or target shooting as their genuine reason.
State Resistance
Premiers have rejected the buyback plan. The Northern Territory government ruled out participation, promising a 'territory first' approach. South Australia said no changes are under consideration, while Victoria is reviewing gun laws but faces a tough election. Queensland rejected the plan outright.
Chris Minns's rushed protest laws were struck down by NSW's highest court, which found they impermissibly burdened the implied constitutional right to freedom of communication.
Complexities of National Register
The national gun register, a priority after the 2022 Wieambilla police killings, faces delays. Smart public service minds insist creating the digital register is acutely complex, with federal elements due by year's end and full operation by 2028.
Albanese ruled out putting more money on the table but insisted the plan will proceed. The original implementation timeframe was from 1 July.
Growing Gun Numbers
Australia Institute research showed before Bondi, there were over 4 million legally owned guns, up 25% since 1996. Data from mid-2025 found at least 2,000 new guns entering the community weekly.
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation's chief executive, Sarah Davies, said the royal commission's report confirmed leaders should treat firearm ownership as 'a privilege – not a right' and that public safety should be the absolute priority.
Nearly five months on from Bondi, Davies said the current pace of gun law reform 'is not meeting the community's safety needs.'
